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Just picked up a 84 with 2.5 and 5 speed. Drove her 2 hours home and this is what I found out, alot of vw interior pieces, speedo, odometer and gas gauge not working. All lights work but headlights and turn signals. Headlights pop up just no light. I checked connections in column and all seemed tight. Where do I check next as this is my daily driver. Other issue is she idles high, about 1300 rpm. What kind of intake system on these Porsches? Look like EFI but can someone give more detailed info on what kind of efi these cars have? And last thing I learned is that my 1990 jeep Cherokee 4.0 had LOTS more power than this Porsche lol.
just finishing her 2 hour journey
Last edited by sp1990; 11-14-2018 at 08:32 PM.
Reason: Info
Believe it or not, the fuel injection system on the Porsche works very similarly to the EFI in your Jeep. It's a batch fire system. Your Jeep uses a MAP sensor to determine the same parameters that the Porsche does using it's Air Fuel Meter, the thing bolted to the air filter housing. I would say something is really out of whack if your Jeep is faster than the Porsche. The 4.0 in the Jeep is rated at about 10 BHP more than the Porsche's 2.5...and even though the Jeep's engine surely develops more torque, it's pushing around quite a lot of extra weight. I have both an '84 944 and an '88 Jeep Cherokee, though I've never driven my 944, or any 944 for that matter. It'll be a few years before it can. My Jeep's been going for 300K miles...They're reliable to a fault!
As to where to begin with work on your car, if it were mine I'd inspect the oil for any water incursion, check the air cleaner housing for oil, change out all the sensors-especially the temp sensor for the computer, and both the speed and reference sensors. Remove, clean and reattach every ground point you can possibly get your tools on. Get it off the ground and check for play at each wheel hub. Replace bearings ASAP if there is any. This is of course in addition to all the usual fluid changes and tune up stuff.
When it comes to fixing stuff that isn't working, study this website carefully: Clark's Garage Home Page
I hope that you got the balance shaft and timing belt history prior to the 2 hour drive home...Welcome to Rennlist..Read the forums there's a wealth of info out here. There's a ground wire setup on the front (both sides?) of the car that controls the headlights. You may have to do a direct jumper to the bulbs themselves to verify if they are OK. Clean up all the grounds you can find. There are some back by the tail lights too. That should be a start on the lighting issue. Hope this helps some.
For sure my jeep would slay the porsche, the Jeep weighs in at 2891lbs not much more weight than the porsche at all. So I was a little disappointed power wise, that was until today. I took her out on some back roads very curvy, and I realized the 944s greatness. The car feels like driving a smaller version of my old 99 firebird 3.8 5 speed. As for any history of the car I'm not sure. Got all week next week to really tear into it. I also noticed 2 key holes on driver's side door, one on the door handle and the other next to it on body of car, what's the extra key hole for?
The second key hole is a switch for a factory alarm. Those are known to cause problems sometimes. I'm not familiar with them, but plenty of others here surely are. And, oh! I don't know how I could've forgotten to mention the timing belts! Unless you know they were done recently, and done correctly, you probably want to make that your #1 priority. If your timing belt breaks, that's it, you've destroyed your engine.
My Cherokee seems to weigh more than yours..I have original documentation for mine that lists it at just over 3400 pounds.
I'm going to have to see if the alarm still works then. And yea I would routinely scrap metal with jeep and on the scales empty she never weighed more than 2900lbs. What's the procedure for taking off sun roof? I am off all next week so I will be checking the timing belts and doing tune up. I noticed when cold started she idles at about 800 then when warm idle goes up to 1300. I'm used to the opposite with carbureted cars, high idle at cold then idle drops when warm. So this isn't normal correct?
I was a little disappointed power wise, that was until today. I took her out on some back roads very curvy, and I realized the 944s greatness. The car feels like driving a smaller version of my old 99 firebird 3.8 5 speed.
It gets better after you slam the 944 though some high G twisties. Way better. The weight distribution is what does it.
Strangely, if you want a real comparison with the Firebird, try an '85 928. That car will make things happen. Really. Things you never imagined could happen.
The 944 is a great track car, it's nimble, light, moves through the corners with grace and alacrity. The 928 is the classic velvet hammer. If it's going somewhere, that's just where it's going. Period. Concrete walls need to look out for it.
As far as your idle issues go, under your intake, this is hiding: Standard Motor Products AC351 Idle Air Control Valve | eBay . It may have become disconnected, or just stopped working. This component is what's supposed to bump up the idle when cold, then gradually let it drop down as it warms up. I'm betting the previous owner jacked up the idle at the throttle body to compensate for it not working.
Wouldn't have guessed rear wiper, so looks like I need a rear wiper arm or does wiper go straight to the motor shaft? Also do these cars have a middle console of some sort, all I got is transmission hump carpet lol, can someone post a pic of what goes there? Are there factory cup holders of any sort? Why do all 80s cars seem to lack cupholders, atleast in my experience.
Had a little time to look at headlights today. I ran my own ground wires to be sure, not getting power from wires. The blinkers just stay lit on dash when I push right or left but no light outside.
11-14-2018, 08:28 PM
Just got an 84
